Motor mount



F. K. BAYLESS MOTOR MOUNT Spt. s, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1966 INVENTOR. Fem/K K. BHYLEJS [fix z:

HIS ATTORNEY p 5, 1967 F. K. BAYLESS 3,339,867

MOTOR MOUNT Filed June 28, 1966 I I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llhl 57 INVENTOR FeflNK KBnYLzss HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent ce 3,339,867 MOTOR MOUNT Frank K. Bayless, Darien, C0nn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 28, 1966, Ser. No. 561,245 7 Claims. (Cl. 248-2) My invention relates to vacuum cleaners, and in particular means for mounting the motor-fan, or blower unit of a vacuum cleaner, in which the mount also provides an air seal to prevent air recirculation between the incoming and outgoing sides of the blower unit.

A vacuum cleaner according to the invention comprises an elongated tank or housing in which a blower unit is axially mounted in spaced relation with the surrounding wall of the tank. Ideally the motor mount must hold the blower unit in position but allow some freedom of movement and minimize axial, radial, torsional or other movement of the unit with reference to the housing, dampen vibration between the motor and housing, and absorb the noise associated with these vibrations, and also protect the blower unit under abnormally severe conditions imposed if the vacuum cleaner is dropped.

In addition a seal must be provided between the motorfan unit and the adjacent wall of the housing to maintain a differential pressure across the fan and thereby obtain maximum airflow and operating efliciency of the fan.

i A blower unit mount and seal is known from US. Patent No. 2,973,895. The mount and seal according to said patent satisfactorily supplies the mounting and sealing functions required, but has the disadvantage that it is difficult, and therefore, expensive, to manufacture.

Accordingly one object of my invention is to provide a motor mount for the blower unit of a vacuum cleaner which performs the ideally desired functions in good measure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mount and seal for a blower unit of a vacuum cleaner which is simple to manufacture, and therefore inexpensive, and still provides the required mounting and sealing functions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a motor mount and seal for the blower unit of a vacuum cleaner which can be consistently and reliably formed, and readily removed from a mould of simple configuration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mount and seal for the blower unit of a vacuum cleaner which consists of a minimum number of parts that are readily assembled to form a composite mount, which in turn is quickly and simply united with the frame of the blower unit.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a vacuum cleaner assembly having a motor-fan unit and mountingseal means according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a metallic suspension ring of the mount-seal means according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a'perspective view of the motor mount of the mounting-seal means according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the motor mount illustrated in FIG. 3, showing the other side thereof;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the motor mount shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The assembly shown in FIG. 1 comprises a vacuum cleaner housing 10 which is axially elongated and may 3,339,867 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 be cylindrical, oval or rectangular in cross-section. The left hand end of the housing 10, as seen in the figure, contains a perforated canister 11 for a dust bag 12 which is a well known arrangement. Air is drawn into the housing 10 through the dust bag by the motor-fan unit generally designated 20 and discharged through an outlet 13 to atmosphere.

The blower unit 20 includes a motor and a two stage centrifugal blower mounted in an open frame member 14 of known construction. As indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1, air which has been drawn through an inlet (not shown) and cleaned as it passes through the filter bag, is passed over the field windings and commutator of the motor of the blower unit for cooling purposes. This airflow is created bya driven first stage fan, a bladed stationary inward air guide and a driven second stage fan as more fully described in the above noted patent.

The blower unit 20, including the frame 14, is mounted in the housing 10 by a motor mount assembly including a motor mount 21 (FIGS. 3 to 6) and a suspension ring 22 (FIG. 2). The motor mount assembly is secured to the housing 10 by a bulkhead member having a skirt portion 23 and an inwardly directed flange 24. The bulkhead skirt 23 is fixedly attached to the housing 10 in an airtight manner by any suitable means, for example by a plurality of spaced welds. It is noted that the configuration of the bulkhead skirt 23 is the same as the housing 10 i.e. cylindrica-l, oval, or rectangular, to obtain a close fit all around. The bulkhead flange 24, the motor mount 21 and suspension ring 22 are united by a plurality of bolts 25 extending through appropriate openings provided in each of these members (the flange 24, mount 21 and ring 22).

The frame 14 of the blower unit 20 incorporates a seat 30 having a circular surface 31, and an inner flange 32 which is preferably made integral with the seat. This inner flange 32 extends radially outwardly from the surface 31. A ring 33 is attached, by suitable bolts, to the seat 30 opposite the flange 32 so that an annular well is formed for receiving the motor mount 21.

In order to facilitate the further description of FIG. 1, the parts of the motor mount shown in FIGS. 2-6 will now be described in detail.

The suspension ring 22, shown in perspective in FIG. 2, consists of an annular metal, preferably steel plate 22a which is rigidified by an integral peripheral flange 22b and a plurality of discrete internal flanges 220. The space between the discrete flanges 220 is adapted to receive the blocks 34 of the motor mount 21. Referring to FIGURES 2 and 4, the suspension ring 22 is nested within the recess 37 as best seen in FIG. 1. In each block 34 of the motor mount 21 a slot 38 is provided for receiving the plate 22a. The purpose of this construction will be explained hereinafter.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 6; the motor mount 21, consisting of rubber or like elastomeric material, has a central opening 26 defined by a cylindrical portion 27. A plurality of discrete blocks 34 extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical portion 27 are the load carrying members of motor mount 21. Each block 34 has an inclined or tapered surface 35 on both the front and rear face of the mount 21 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. As best seen in FIG. 4, each block is slotted at 38. The slots 38 extend throughout the length of the blocks 34 in a circumferential direction. The slots 38 are located approximately midway between the front and rear face of each block and extend to a depth approximately in the horizontal plane of symmetry of each block so that a plane of shear is located at about the center of mass of each block for purposes which will be explained more fully hereinafter. The skirt portion 36 of the motor mount is provided for preventing air recirculation around the blower unit as will be explained later also.

The skirt 36 terminates at its outer edge in a bead or enlarged axially extending flange which keeps the flange 36 radially extended so that it cannot creep inwardly between bulkhead flange 24 and ring 22 and thereby breaks the seal between low pressure chamber L and the higher pressure chamber H.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be apparent from the foregoing that the motor mount 21 fits onto the seat 30 overlying the surface 31. In order to consistently obtain a reliable airtight seal over the surface 31, the CD. of surface 31 is made slightly larger than the diameter of the opening 26 of the motor mount 21. As a result a tight fit is obtained betwen the surface 31 of the seat 30 and the motor mount 21. No air can be passed between the motor mount and the seat of the blower unit frame since the cylindrical portion 27 of the motor mount is secured in airtight relation with the surface 31 of seat 30 over 360".

During normal operation of the blower unit unavoidable vibrations emanating from various sources within the unit, which may be amplified, or create resonant conditions, are transmitted to the frame 14. The resultant forces acting on the frame cause slight movement of the blower unit in yaw and/or along the longitudinal axis of the housing. These movements are transferred, through the frame 14 and seat 30, to the mounting blocks 34. By virtue of the ring 22, which is embedded in the blocks 34, these movements cause the mounting blocks to be placed in shear. It is well known that rubber and like resilient materials, absorb vibrations more effectively when placed in shear than when placed in compression or tension. Further, even though the blower unit moves slightly relative to the housing there is no relative movement between the blower unit, or its frame 14, and the motor mount 21 because the blocks 34 are firmly held between the plate 33 and flange 32.

If the vacuum cleaner is accidentally dropped on one of its ends the resultant shock force or load will be trans mitted from the housing 10 through the bulkhead flange 24 and suspension ring 30 to the mounting blocks 34. Again the blocks will be placed in shear by virtue of ring 22 embedded in the blocks 34. In addition, as the surface 35 of the blocks abut against the flange 32 (or ring 33) a complementary, gradually increasing shock absorbing compression of the block takes place to protect the blower unit and mounting assembly. From FIG. 1, it will be clear that even under the most severe conditions, the inner end of the ring 22 cannot escape from the well defined by the seat 30 and the associated flange 32 and ring 33. Furthermore, the flange 32 and ring 33 form a limit stop to prevent excessive movement of the blower unit i.e. movement which would cause the blower unit to engage the exit end 13 of the housing or the dust bag canister 11. It will be apparent from the above that the integrity of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 is ensured under abnormally severe conditions and under normal operating conditions a highly effective vibration absorbing mount is provided.

The depth of slots 38 in the motor mount blocks 34 is preferably extended to the plane defined by the intersection of the flange 32 and ring 33 with the tapered surface 35. It is also preferred that the tapered surface 35 extends for approximately one-half of the height dimension of the bloc-ks which is the same for each of them. The angle of inclination of surfaces 35 is chosen to provide a small degree of movement of the blower unit.

As stated above the motor mount 21 also provides a seal to prevent air recirculation between the high pressure chamber H of the housing 10 and the low pressure chamber L created during operation of the blower unit. The seal between the bulkhead skirt 23 and housing 10, and the blower unit frame seat 30 and cylindrical portion of the mount 21 have already been noted. A further seal is provided by clamping the skirt 36 of the motor mount between the suspension ring 22 and the bulkhead flange 24. The clamping force required for this purpose is supplied by bolts 25 supplemented by the rigid characteristics of the ring 22 and bulkhead flange 24 provided by the associated flanges.

It will be apparent from FIGS. 3 to 6 that the motor mount 21 does not have any undercuts or opening at an angle to the direction of removal of the piece from a mould or which require careful application of the raw material to the mould. The slots in the mounting blocks do not present any problem because they are relatively shallow and the inclined surface of the blocks allows the block to be readily deformed to open the slot during removal of the piece from the mould. Therefore the motor mount can be reliably formed and removed from a mould of conventional shape which is inexpensive to manufacture.

From the above description of the invention it will be apparent also that a motor mount and seal are provided with a minimum number of parts which are readily assembled on the frame of the blower unit and this subassembly is quickly and easily attached to the bulkhead flange of the vacuum cleaner housing.

The foregoing description of my invention is given by way of illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof. However, the foregoing is not intended to limit the scope of the invention defined by the subjoined claims or to limit use of the invention to vacuum cleaners.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus comprising a motor mount consisting of resilient material having an axially extending cylindrical portion defining a central opening, a plurality of discrete radially outwardly projecting mounting blocks integral with said cylindrical portion, said mounting blocks extending over a portion of the circumference of said cylindrical portion and being substantially axially coextensive with said cylindrical portion, a radially extending annular skirt member integral with both said cylindrical portion and said mounting blocks, each said mounting block having a slot therein, each said slot extending radially inwardly of said mounting blocks; a suspension ring having an annular radially extending flange in side by side abutting relation with said skirt portion, said suspension ring flange being received in said slots for placing said blocks in shear when said suspension ring and motor mount are moved relative to one another in an axial direction tending to separate said ring and mount.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with a blower unit having a frame member, said frame member including a seat having a circular outer surface, said surface having a diameter greater than the diameter of said central opening, said seat being received in said central opening whereby an airtight seal is formed between said outer surface of the seat and the cylindrical portion of said motor mount defining said central openmg.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said seat comprises a pair of radially outwardly extending flange members contiguous with said outer circular surface at each side thereof defining an annular well; said mounting blocks engaging each said flange member over at least a part of the radial extent of said annular well, said mounting blocks having a surface inclined away from each said flange member and progressively spaced therefrom, said flanges providing a limit stop against movement of said mounting block a distance greater than the width of the space defined by said inclined surface and the adjacent flange member.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 with the addition of an elongated vacuum cleaner housing member, said housing member having a bulkhead member attached to the inner surface of said housing member, said bulkhead member having a radially inwardly extending bulkhead flange portion; said annular skirt portion of the motor mount abutting said bulkhead flange at one side thereof, means for clamping said skirt between said one side of the bulkhead flange and said suspension ring on the side of said skirt opposite said bulkhead flange whereby said skirt defines an annular airtight joint between said ring and bulkhead flange; said blower unit being suspended in said housing axiaHy thereof by said motor mount and said motor mount defining a seal between said housing member and said blower unit for preventing air recirculation between said member and unit.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said slot extends into said mounting block a distance substantially equal to one-half of the corresponding dimension of said block.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said slot extends into said mounting block a distance substantially equal to the vertical height of said inclined surface.

7. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 wherein said motor mount consists of rubber material configured by moulding, said cylindrical portion being axially elongated; said mounting blocks having an inclined surface at each side thereof, said inclined surfaces being spaced from said cylindrical portion in the radial direction of said motor mount; said slots extending into each said mounting block a distance substantially equal to the vertical dimension corresponding with said inclined surfaces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,656,097 10/1953 Sheahan 248-26 X 2,875,466 3/1959 Nyberg 248-18 X 2,964,236 12/1960 Kasper 230-117 2,973,895 3/1961 Brown et al 230-235 3,101,889 8/1963 Tatge 230-235 X JOHN PETO, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS COMPRISING A MOTOR MOUNT CONSISTING OF RESILIENT MATERIAL HAVING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING CYLINDRICAL PORTION DEFINING A CENTRAL OPENING, A PLURALITY OF DISCRETE RADIALLY OUTWARDLY PROJECTING MOUNTING BLOCKS INTEGRAL WITH SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION, SAID MOUNTING BLOCKS EXTENDING OVER A PORTION OF THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY AXIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION, A RADIALLY EXTENDING ANNULAR SKIRT MEMBER INTEGRAL WITH BOTH SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND SAID MOUNTING BLOCKS, EACH SAID MOUNTING BLOCK HAVING A SLOT THEREIN, EACH SAID SLOT EXTENDING RADIALLY INWARDLY OF SAID MOUNTING BLOCKS; A SUSPENSION RING HAVING AN ANNULAR RADIALLY EXTENDING FLANGE IN SIDE BY SIDE ABUTTING RELATION WITH SAID SKIRT PORTION, SAID SUSPENSION RING FLANGE BEING RECEIVED IN SAID SLOTS FOR PLACING SAID BLOCKS IN SHEAR WHEN SAID SUSPENSION RING AND MOTOR MOUNT ARE MOVED RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER INAXIAL DIRECTION TENDING TO SEPARATE SAID RING AND MOUNT. 